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This Glossary is meant to help you with some terms in our Privacy Policy that you may not be familiar with and is not a part of our official Privacy Policy.

APIs

An “application programming interface” or “API” is a communication protocol that allows software components to communicate with each other. The MediaWiki API, for example, allows third-party software tools to communicate with Mediawiki sites (including Wikimedia Sites) to carry out certain actions, such as reading or editing a page, automatically and remotely. Learn more on Wikipedia.

Browsers

Cookies

A “cookie” is a tiny data file that we transfer onto your computer, mobile phone, or any other device that you use to access the Wikimedia Sites, generally used for authentication and occasionally tracking. Every cookie expires after a certain period of time, but that period varies depending on what the cookie is used for and how your browser is configured. A “session” cookie is one that generally expires when you close your web browser or mobile application. A “persistent” cookie is one that remains in your device, even after you close your browser or mobile application. A persistent cookie expires according to the duration set by us (or when you delete it manually). Learn more on Wikipedia.

You may remove or disable cookies through your browser settings.

Do Not Track

"Do Not Track" or "DNT" is a way for your web browser to tell the website you are visiting that you do not want to be be tracked by third parties whose websites you did not visit, like analytics services, advertising networks, and social platforms. When using this mechanism, a signal is sent by your browser, expressing your desire that your personal information, particularly about your online activities and network interactions, should not be passed on to third parties. When receiving a DNT signal sent by your browser, the person or entity that owns the website has the option to either honor or ignore the above-mentioned request.

GPS

The “global positioning system” or “GPS” is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information on the location of devices designed to receive their signals such as car navigation systems or cell phones. Learn more on Wikipedia.

Internet Protocol Address

An Internet Protocol Address (or “IP address”) is a unique number assigned to a particular device connected to the Internet. Your IP address may not always be the same on a particular device, depending on a number of variables such as your use of a proxy server or a corporate network. Generally, however, IP addresses are assigned according to the geographical location of your device and your internet service provider, and might be usable to approximate your real-life location. Learn more on Wikipedia.

JavaScript

Local Storage

“Local Storage” (also known as "Web Storage") is a way for a website to collect and store information "locally" (i.e. on the user's device rather than on the website’s server) and then later retrieve it again. For example, by using LocalStorage, a user’s visits can be stored on their own computer, counted, and then given to us. This allow us to receive important use statistics (the count of visits), while the specific information about when each individual visit occurred would never be transmitted to us.

Metadata

“Metadata” means additional information about a particular file (such as a photo or video) that usually includes things like the manufacturer and model of the device that took a photo, date and time the photo was taken, exposure time, lens focal length, ISO speed rating, and F-number. Some metadata is automatically included by the device and some is written by the owner of the device. Learn more on Wikipedia.

Operating System

An “operating system” is a software program that manages your device’s hardware resources and performs basic tasks like keeping track of files, recognizing when you type something into the keyboard, and sending output to your screen. Examples of common operating systems include Linux (also known as GNU/Linux), iOS, Windows, Mac OS X, and Android. Learn more on Wikipedia.

Proxy Servers

A “proxy server” is a server that acts as an intermediary between your device and the server your device is requesting information (connection to a webpage, a file, etc.) from. Learn more on Wikipedia.

Tracking Pixel

A “tracking pixel” (sometimes called “web beacons”, “transparent GIFs”, “clear GIFs”, “pixel gifs”, or “pixel tags”) is a tiny, invisible image that allows us to track activities on Wikimedia Sites or activities based on email notifications we send. Although tracking pixels are commonly associated with advertising, we never use tracking pixels for advertising nor do we sell or rent the information collected through tracking pixels. Information collected through tracking pixels can only be shared with third parties in aggregated form and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. Tracking pixels help us figure out if certain features, notifications, and products are effective and if they can be improved. Learn more on Wikipedia.